Child&#39;s cart



Aug. 19, 1930. w. L. BRADLEY CHILD S CART Filed Aug. 17, 7192s 2Sheets-Sheet 1 vms/vnk 6 W (63 Z I M flr-To ms s Aug. 19, 1930. w. 1..BRADLEY 1,773,567

CHILD S CART Filed Aug. 17, 19 26 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #770 NE vs PatentedAug. 1930 WALTER 1.. BRADLEY, or sYnAcusn, NEW YORK CHILIJS CARTApplication filed August 17, 1926. Serial No. 129,713.

' This invention relates to certain improvements in childrens carts of.the four-wheeled and box-body type in" which the axle for the frontwheels is turnable about a Vertical axis in the longitudinal center ofthe box for steering purposeswhile the rear wheels rotate about an axisin fixed relation to the box as distinguished from the two-wheeledplatform type commonly known as .kiddie cars. i

The carts ofb'oth types are commonly used for exercising and pleasurablepurposes by bracing one leg or foot upon the body and;

propelling with the other foot but the fourwheeled type is obviously notas convenient for that use as the two-wheeled type due to the adaptationof the body for receiving and retaining various small objects fortransportation from one placeto another. I e The main object ofthepresent invention is to combine the advantages of both'types in a singlecart and at the sametime to'increase its. load carrying capacity.

7 plifying its construction and reducing the 't Another object is toenable the cart to be produced at a comparatively low cost by simnumberof parts. g

' A further object is to arrange the parts of: the simplified structurein such manner as to strengthen the entire structureand thereby toprolong its life." I

Other objects and'uses relating to specific parts of the vehicle will bebrought out in the following description;

In the drawings embodying the variou'sfeatures of my in j vention.

Figures 2 and 3 are transverse vertical sectional views, partly brokenaway, taken in the planes of lines 2-2 andr33,' Figured.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on line 44,Figure 1. I

As illustrated,this cart comprises a suband front and, rear end portions'4' and 5.

Suitable cleats or cross bars -.-6--" and 7 are bolted or otherwisesecured directly Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cart v tel-mediateportion of the bottom 2 in spaced relation tofeach other and to thefront and rear cross bars -6--and 7 as shown more clearly in Figure 4for reinforcing and additionally supporting the central portion ofthebox. h j v j i The parts thus fardescribed are preferably made of woodbut obviously may be made, of other suitable material if desired. Q

A Uv-shaped front bolster bar 10 has its opposite ends secured by bolts11- to the underside of the front cross bar 6-' and to adjacent portionsof the bottom. -2' equal distances from the longitudinalcenter of thebox while its intermediate portionor apex is substantiallyfiatanddisposed ina plane some distance below the bottom of the box exceptthat its central portion is struck up to form arcess f12 in which isseated the front end of a rearwardly extending brace bar 13 having itsrear end secured by a bolt -14to the underside of the central portion ofthe cross bar'8, the thickness ofthefront end of the brace +13--berecess 12* so that its lowerface will be substantially co-incidentwith the lower face of the adjacent portion of the bolster bar 10 toform therewith a fifth wheel bearing adapted to rest upon asubstantially flatfifth-wheel section 15-.' 7V 7 a H This fifth-wheelsection 15 is riveted or otherwise secured to the central portion orapex of an underlying inverted U-shaped bolster bar 16 of about the samelength as the upper-bolster bar -10 and having its opposite endsdeflected downwardly at Vl6"- for receiving and supporting a front axle'il7, carrying at'its opposite endsa.

pair ground wheels f18- A brace bar 19 extends across the underside ofthecentral portion of the bolster bar- 46: in spaced relation theretoandhas "its opposite ends 'riveted or otherwise seling substantiallyequal to the depth'of the the central portion of the cross brace 19 foradditionally stiffening the il'ower bolster section.

The upper bolster bar and its cross bar ---6- constitute what may betermed the upper bolster section while the lower bolster bar 16 and itsbrace bars 19- and --20to gether with the fifth-wheel section 15%constitute what may be termed the lower bolster section which ispivotally connected to the upper bolster section and to the bottom ofthe box 1' by means of a king 21'' f.r i "That is, the king bolt -21- ispassed through'regi'stering openings in both bolster sections to permitrelative turning move merit of the front axle 17 and its wheels 18 forsteering purposes. A pair of tongue arms -22 are mounted at their rearends upon the opposite ends of the axle --17 just at the outside of theadjacent ends of the bolster bar --16--to converge forwardly therefromsome distance beyondthe front wheels 18- andunited at their front endsby a connecting yoke 23 and a transverse bolt 7-24, said tongue servingas a means for turning the axle 17- and corresponding bolster sectionabout the axis of the king bolt 2l-.

A brace connects the intermediate portion of the bolt 24 with the kingbolt2l-jlustbelow and against the underside of the front crossbar 6, therear end of said brace being held against downward displacement by acotter key or pin 26 passing through an aperture in the king'bolt.

This-brace -25 serves to hold the tongue 22 against vertical movementand pref- ,erably in afonwardly and upwardly inclined A plane. r I

' A pole -27is pivotally connected at one end to the outer ends of thepivotal bolt 24.- to swing vertically and forwardly till - andrearwardly to different angles as may be "mostconvement for propellingand steerlng the vehicle, the oppositeend of the pole'being providedwith aIhanidle 27- by which it maybe manipulated. f :Ilhe tongue22--extends forwardly some distance beyond the front end ofthe box'lengtlrt'o extend some distance 'above the body andlagainst. the frontend, thereof when itti g thahaad 'e ears to overlie the intermetliataportion 7 of .the'box for convenience the opposite ends of Inent thereonand may be held against of operation for steering by the occupant of thebox if desired.

T he axle -17* is preferably journaled 1n the lower bolster bar 15- forrotary movement while the wheels -18 may also be ournaled upon the outerends of the axle for relative rotary moveaxial displacementby anysuitable means commonly employed for that purpose;

A rearupright bolster section 28- is secured at its upper end by bolts-2$) to the underside of the rear cross bar -7 to extend downwardlytherefrom directly below the rear'end ofthe box -1 and preferableconsists of a cast metal bracket having its lower end provided with arearwar dly projecting horizontal flange 30 1n a plane some distancebelow the axis of the front wheels 18- and axle -17- but a suiiicientdistance above the ground-engagmg' portion of vthe front wheels to clearordinary obstacles in the road or pavement.-

Ahorizontal step 31 of suitable metal is rigidly secured at its frontedge by bolts -32- to the cent uprightportionrof the bracket'28 toextend rearwardly therefrom some distance beyond. the rear end; of thebox -1- and is provided near its opposite sides with parallel lengthwiseslots or openings 33for receiving'a'pair ofrear wheels -84.

The intermediate portions of opposite walls of the slots 33 are providedwith upstanding lugs -35 for receiving and supporting a pair of:co-axial journal bearings or .pins -3'6- upon which the adjacent wheels34l are ournalcd so as to revolve 111 their respective slots oropen1ngs.-33-

about an axis substantially midway between the front and rear edges ofthe step to-rreduce theliability of tilting the front end of the boxupwardly when the step is vsupporting the Weight of theuser.

The wheels -3lserve to support the step '31- and through the bracket -28to support the rear end of thebody orbox 1 The walls of theopenings,-I3S are raised above the intermediate portion ofsaid step to formguard flanges 3'? to prevent contact of thefootor feet of the user withthe wheels and alsoto'prevent slipping of the foot ,for-

wardly from the step the remaining portions of the step beingsubstantially flat and horizontal and extending some distance forwardly"and rearwardl-y beyond the axis of the wheels -r34t to aiford amplespace for supporting the foot or feet of the user.

I Suitablemeans, operable from therear end of the cart, is provided forturning the lower front bolsteimse'ction about the axis .of the kingbolt2l-, said means consisting of, up-

right steering post sections 88-', and .39-- and .a rearwardly extendinglink having. its front end eccentrically coni so flange -30-:and to theadjalar and is journaled in vertically alined open- H lngs in rearwardlyprojecting flanges t1 and 42 on the bracket 28 below the bottom 2 of thebox 1 and is provided at its lower end with a laterally and upwardlyprojecting crank arm 43 to which the adjacent end of the link 40 ispivotally connected as shown more clearly in Figure 2.

This crank arm l3 is provided with a plurality of apertures 43" atdifierent distances from its center to vary the amount of movement ofthe steering wheels.

The rear end of the link lO-. may be inserted in any one of the openings+435 while the front end is inserted in an aperture in the brace 19 ofthe lower front bolster sect-ion whereby the turning of the tubular post38 will transmit similar turning movement to the axle -17 and wheels -18for dirigible purposes.

The post is held against downward displacement by a cross pin -4 whichpasses diametricallly through an aperture in the post just above thelower flange 41 as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The post section 39 is slidable telescopically in the section 38- andhas its lower end slotted lengthwise for receiving the pin i% and 'forinterlocking engagement therewith to transmit rotary motion from thesection 39 to the section 38.

The post 39 extends some distance -39 in reverse directions will betransmitt-ed first to the tubular post -38- through the medium of thepin 44 and thence through the crank arm &3 and link 40- to the lowerfront bolster section carrying the axle 17 as may be required to directthe movement of the vehicle.

It will be observed that the operator standing on the step 31 has freeaccess for movement of the feet and. legs the entire width of the bodyorbetweenthe wheels may be withdrawn upwardly from the tubular section 38andlaid in the bottom of the box thereby permitting the entire capacityof the box tobeusedfor transporting articles from'place to place.

Av'brace bar is secured at one end of a bolt l-7'- to a rearwardlyprojecting central flange 48I- on the bracket 28- to extendupwardlyand'forwardly therefrom and 'has itsfront end secured by a bolt -49 tothe underside of the'intermediate cross bar '9-, Figure 4, said brace46- being arranged along the longitudinal center of the box land bracket28- for stiffening the'bracket against forward and rearward movementrelatively to the body.

Operation When the car is used in the place of a kiddie car, the pole-27may be tilted upwardly and rearwardlyto rest upon the front of thebox and to extend rearwardly therefromin which case the handle post 39will be inserted into the tubular section '38rfor interlockingconnection therewith.

i l The operator then places one foot upon the step "-3l and his handsupon the handle bars '--45 and with the other foot on the ground propelsthe'machine forwardly in the manner of stepping while with the hands oni the handle bars 45 the directionof the motion of the machine maybeeasily guided.

Also in coasting the operator may stand with'both feet upon the step31'- and direct the movement of the car by means of the handle bars 45which also serve to steady the rider upon the step.

During either of these operations, the various articles, or one or moreother passengers, may be carried in the box -1- for transportation. Incase another passenger is carried the steering post -39 maybe moved orleft inplace at the will ofthe operator and the ,course of the machinedirected by the passenger through the medium of the pole 27 or the rideronthe step 31may as= sist in guiding the vehicle by means of the handlebars -45-.'

When the vehicle is used solely for transporting loads from place toplace the post .39 may be removed and placed in the bottom of the boxtogether with any other objects constituting the load under whichconditions the machine may be propelled forwardly and rearwardly andguided by means of the pole 27 which would then be swung forwardly anddownwardly to a convenient position for handling.

A cart constructed in the manner described is adapted for a wide varietyof. uses and is particularly light, strong and durable but it is evidentthat various parts thereof may be somewhat modified without departingfrom the the spirit of this invention.

WhatI claim is ice i -1. lnaauchilds cart: having abody,-,a pair offront supporting Wheels and apair of rear supporting-Wheels, a'bolstersecured to and extending downwardly from the rear end of r the body, astep .securedto and projecting 0 rearwardly from-the bolster in ahorizontal plane below; the axis-of the rear Wheels and having itsopposite sides provided with Wheel-receiving slots, and said rearwheelsjournaled in a planeintermediate the front and rear edges of the step inopposite length- 1 yvisewalls ofrespective slots to. revolve therem. a A

"2.. In a vehiclerof the character described, :aybodyrsection, meansincluding a pair of steering Wheelsffor supporting the frontend of thebody section and a pair of Wheels for supporting the rear end of saidbody, a bolster secured to and projecting downwardlytfromlthe rearend-of the body section, a steplsecured tol and projecting rearwardlyfromthe lower edge of thebolster in a hori- .zontal:plane:below the axisof the rear Wheels ,andvprovided with laterally spaced vertical openingstherethrough of greater length than the diameter of the rear Wheel, saidstep hav ing-hupwardly-j projecting lugs positioned intermediatethefront and rear edges and at opposite sides of each opening, and saidrear liwheels journaled on said lugs to rotate in a said vopenings.

In witness whereoi I have hereunto set my hand this 30 day of July19:26.

WALTER L. BRADLEY.

